Winnipeg Commodity Exchange Volume Continues To Post Gains In September

Total volume of trade in futures and options contracts on Winnipeg Commodity Exchange Inc. posted gains in September 2005 from month ago, year ago and crop year-todate levels. Total volume is up 12.5% from a month ago and 9.2% from a year ago.

During September there were 154,696 futures contracts and 5,514 options contracts traded. This is an increase of 9.6% from futures activity recorded last month and 6.4% higher than the level of a year ago. Options trade increased by 310.6% from last month and 353.8% from a year ago.

Strong gains in canola futures and options volume supported the overall increase in trade. There were 138,701 canola futures contracts traded during September. This is 13.9% higher than August 2005 volume and 22.4% over that of September 2004. Trade in canola options was 450.2% higher than last month, at 4,594 options contracts and was 517.5% higher than a year ago.

Crop year-to-date futures volume for all commodities is up 13.0% from 2004/05 with 295,787 futures contracts being traded during the first two months of the 2005/06 crop year. Options trade for the crop year-to-date is 6,857 options contracts which is 205.8% over that of the first two months of the 2004/05 crop year. Total crop yearto- date volume is up 14.6% from last year at 302,644 contracts.

At the end of September 2005, open interest in futures contracts was 80,767 which is 26.8% higher than a year ago. Options open interest was 7,988 contracts, representing an increase of 59.2% from last year. Total open interest stood at 88,755 contracts which is up 29.2% from a year ago.